Kremlin Urges State Media to Balance Coverage of Trump Amid Thawing U.S.-Russia Relations

The Kremlin has advised Russian state media to exercise restraint regarding their praise for U.S. President Donald Trump, encouraging them instead to emphasize the diplomatic acumen of President Vladimir Putin, as reported by the independent news outlet Vyorstka.

As per Vyorstka’s report, leaders of state media have been instructed to adopt a careful and measured tone, especially in light of the recent warming of relations between the U.S. and Russia and the potential for a ceasefire in Ukraine. This guidance aims to avoid overly positive portrayals of Trump in the event that negotiations falter.

This cautious stance reflects the Kremlin’s overall media strategy, which values adaptability in messaging to facilitate strategic shifts when needed. By not fully endorsing Trump, state media can more readily change the narrative if diplomatic discussions reach an impasse or if the U.S. president changes his approach.

A source familiar with regular editorial meetings at the Kremlin shared with Vyorstka that Russian leaders desire media coverage that creates a “positive atmosphere” surrounding renewed diplomatic initiatives.

However, according to this source, rather than offering praise for Trump, Russian media should depict him as someone who was wise enough to accept Putin’s overtures.

This portrayal allows Russian officials to claim they made every effort for diplomatic engagement if relations were to deteriorate, the source told Vyorstka.

Despite these informal guidelines, Russian media outlets have exhibited different strategies in their reporting. Some state-run television networks have expressed optimism about Trump’s readiness to engage with Moscow, framing it as a practical shift in U.S. foreign policy.

Conversely, other voices, particularly those of pro-war bloggers and military correspondents, have reacted with skepticism regarding prospective agreements on joint resource extraction.

There are concerns surrounding reports that Russia might collaborate with the U.S. on rare earth minerals, with hardliners perceiving such a collaboration as a potential concession rather than a diplomatic achievement.

This article originally appeared in bne IntelliNews.